Petts Wood to West Wickham Common

London Loop section 3 page 1 LONDON LOOP

Section 3 of 24 Petts Wood to West Wickham Common

Section start: Jubilee Country Park Nearest station to start: Petts Wood (Rail)

Section ﬁnish: Gates Green Road, West Wickham Common

Nearest station to ﬁnish: Hayes (Kent) (Rail)

Section distance 8.3 miles plus 1.0 miles of station links Total = 9.3 miles (14.9 km)

Introduction This section of the Loop passes through attractive countryside with strong links to Charles Darwin and the Lubbock family.

The walking is generally easy with a few longish steep slopes and some small ﬂights of steps. Much of it is on footpaths through commons, parks and along tracks.

There are cafés and pubs at one or two places along the way and you can picnic at High Elms where there is both a café and toilets.

It is possible to shorten the walk by taking the bus from Farnborough or Keston and some other points on the route.

This version by members of the Ramblers for Transport for London In this format: text © Ramblers 2021, maps © OpenStreetMap Downloaded from: https://innerlondonramblers.org.uk/loop Updated: May 2021

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Walking directions From Petts Wood station take the Queensway exit down the steps on the western approach side and then turn right along Queensway. Follow this until it curves left and go straight ahead down Crest View Drive.

Just after the Drive curves left, turn right down Tent Peg Lane. At the car park, take the footpath to the left through the trees. After about 100 yards enter Jubilee Country Park, joining the Loop.

At the junction of several paths go through the gate on the left. Follow the metalled path for about 30 yards then branch left. Carry on with trees to the left and a ﬁeld to the right. Follow the path round to the left.

Reach the exit from the Country Park at a ﬁeld gate. At the gate turn right on a fenced path by a drive, with St James School on the left. At the end of this path Did you know? cross Southborough Lane and go straight ahead down Oxhawth Crescent. Jubilee Country Park is a local nature reserve Cross over Chesham Avenue and continue down Faringdon Avenue. Keep and a site of importance ahead across one roundabout to the end of the avenue where it meets a for nature conservation. It was purchased by belt of woodland. Turn left along the footpath at a Loop sign past the last Bromley Council in house. Follow this waymarked path for about 550 yards through Sparrow 1977 to commemorate Woods and Crofton Heath, following the Crofton Wood circular trail signs. the Queen's Silver This section can be extremely muddy after wet weather and there is a drier Jubilee and opened as a park in 1981. path in the trees to the left.

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After crossing the stream, follow the main path for about 700 yards, keeping right past an open glade on the left and a bench on the right. Bear right at the next junction and join a wider path coming from the left leading to a track with an asphalt surface. Turn right onto this and go straight on, keeping the stream on the left. The track leads onto Crofton Road.

Break point Bus routes 353 and 61 leave from Crofton Road towards Hayes, Bromley, Orpington and Chislehurst.

Turn left and cross the road at the traffic island and continue, as signed, on the footpath between garden fences passing the Scout and Guide HQ and on through the residential area to Lovibonds Avenue, ignoring the first path to the right. Cross this road and go straight on along the road ahead (Crofton Avenue). Note On the maps, chevrons (black arrow heads) Ignore the first footpath on the right (signposted to Farnborough) but then show where the route is soon after passing La Tourne Gardens, turn right at a triangle of grass and steep. The chevrons woodland and along a path into Darrick Wood. point uphill.

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Pass the signboards announcing the entrance to Darrick and Newstead Did you know? Woods Nature Reserve. Carry on along the main path through the woods A village called until arriving at a junction of paths with an ‘island’ surrounded by wooden 'Fearnbioginga' - the railings in the middle. The Loop route (rather peculiarly) leads round this village among the ferns on the hill - goes back ‘island’ in an anti-clockwise direction with loop waymarks on posts, passing many centuries. It a 'Woodland' information board on the far side. After circling round the began to flourish as a island, take the path to the right. (This point could have been reached in significant point on the turnpike road between less time by going clockwise following the direction of the signpost to London and Hastings. Tubbenden Meadow). Farnborough still retains a village atmosphere. This wide tree lined track runs between the Tennis Centre with its 'indoor bubble' on the left and open fields on the right. Carry straight on until you enter an open area (Tubbenden Meadow) forking to the right to meet two benches and an information board with a fine view to the south.

There are a number of mown paths leading down across the meadow. Go ahead diagonally across the open space bearing slightly right, as indicated by the Loop post and waymark on the right. On reaching the bottom corner, the path veers left in front of the trees to come to some steps leading down and then goes right at a signpost to a bridge with a wooden handrail. A footway leads out of the Reserve up steps onto the dual carriageway.

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Cross the road (Farnborough Way) with care using the island in the middle and continue straight ahead along the footpath between the houses. The path runs between wooden fences before meeting Gladstone Road straight ahead. Follow Gladstone Road to its junction with Farnborough High Street, with a parade of shops to the left.

Break point There are buses from Farnborough High Street to Bromley and Orpington. Did you know? There has been a Cross the High Street and turn right. Then take the first left down Church church on this spot for many centuries (dating Road where, beyond the houses, you join a raised path on the right side of back to the 9th century). the road leading to the lychgate (roofed gateway to a churchyard) of St The building is listed as Giles the Abbott. Go through the gate being of special architectural and Walk along the main path round the right side of the church and through historic interest. There are some the churchyard to a gate on the far side. Go through it with the open field Commonwealth War on your right Graves in the churchyard. Short diversion To visit the Lubbock family burial ground, take the path on the left into the woods and follow this for about 100 yards to reach the memorial site. Did you know? There are recent gravestones for the latest members of the Lubbock High Elms Country Park family. Retrace your steps out of the woods and then turn left keeping to was originally the the edge of the woodland. country home of the Lubbock family. It The main route keeps to the edge of the woodland following the signs to covers over 400 acres of woodlands, orchid High Elms Country Park. At the bottom of the open area follow the path rich grasslands and a bearing left into the woods. golf course. Sir John Lubbock, an MP, Pass through a barrier to cross a bridleway, and follow the path down to a wealthy banker, author road (Shire Lane). and scientist lived at High Elms and was a close friend of Charles Take care crossing straight over the road to a path on the other side which Darwin. The Park now soon opens out into a car park. This is High Elms Country Park. features the BEECHE Centre, a sustainable Carry on straight across the car park and onto a path leading towards the education and visitor sign to BEECHE (Bromley Environmental Education Centre) and the centre, run by Bromley Council and ID Verde, Green Roof Café. Turn right at the sign and then follow the path round to which also offers the left uphill passing the Eton fives court and entrance to toilets on the left. refreshment and toilet Go through a barrier and follow the tarmac path to the right. facilities.

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On reaching the top of the path turn right and cross an open grassed area (following a sign to the 'Clubhouse') with formal garden areas on either side. This was the site of the former Lubbock mansion destroyed by ﬁre.

Go straight on down the hill along the yew-tree avenue and out through the kissing gate at the bottom. You now enter the car park of the High Elms Golf Club. Keep the Clubhouse to the left and leave by the path leading out to the road, which is beyond the main car park entrance roadway.

Cross the road (High Elms Road) to the path opposite and turn immediately left on the path through an orchard (Clockhouse Community Orchard) which follows the line of the road. Turn right at the end onto a path going uphill. Go through a small area of chalk grassland crossing the golf course path between holes and then another open area before going into the woods. Follow the path to a crossroads of paths and carry straight on eventually reaching North End Lane at a signpost.

Turn left and after about 60 yards turn right into Bogey Lane, an ancient hedged greenway.

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After about another 50 yards there are some steps on the left going up into the adjoining ﬁeld which is a better route to take being more open rather than the sunken path which is often very muddy in winter. Note that the steps may be partly hidden by overgrowth and fallen branches. (You can follow the sunken lane as you join up with it a little later.)

After going up the steps keep to the edge of the ﬁeld alongside Bogey Lane below and follow it round for about 500 yards until it curves sharply left towards pylons. Descend the steps on the right leading back down to Bogey Lane and a junction of paths.

Turn left at the bottom of the steps. Ignore the path leading off to the left and take the path in front of you through a corridor of trees which is a continuation of Bogey Lane. This leads out through wooden bollards into a road called Farthing Street. Turn right and carry on down the hill and round the bends coming out onto Shire Lane again at a T-junction.

Cross over and take the path going left between the hedge and the wire fence which initially follows the line of the road. There are ﬁne views of Holwood House on the crest of the hill to the right. Follow the path to the right and then left around the fencing before going through a metal kissing gate close to the entrance of what is now the Jack Frost Pet and Country store just off the road junction.

Cross a track and then turn to the right and onto a path lined with trees and Did you know? The Wilberforce Oak hedges between ﬁelds. The path eventually starts going uphill. This brieﬂy commemorates the climbs steeply to meet a driveway with an impressive entrance to the right. spot, where it is said, Cross the drive, continuing straight ahead shortly to reach the Wilberforce William Wilberforce had a conversation with Oak monument and bench on the right. William Pitt the Younger in 1788 (who had Continue straight on along the path through the woods, at the end coming bought Holwood House out onto a road (Westerham Road). in 1785) and vowed to promote the abolition of Break point the slave trade. This led There are stops on Westerham Road for bus 320 to Bromley and Biggin to him leading a Hill or bus R2 towards Orpington nearby. campaign which resulted in the passing Cross the road to the two adjoining paths opposite and enter Keston of the Slave Trade Act in 1807 and subsequent Common. Take the right hand path for a short distance and at a crossing of Acts. paths turn right.

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This stony and gravel path leads gradually downhill with the mound of the Iron Age Bank and Ditch on the left (about 200 BCE). The path comes out Did you know? through a barrier into a car park with some conifers and raised beds in the Keston Common is 55 middle. Walk straight ahead across the car park to a Loop fingerpost to hectares of public open space and is a Site of take the steps leading down to Caesar's Well, a spring which is the source Special Scientific of the River Ravensbourne. Interest (SSSI). It was formerly part of the Follow the path with the first pond on your left until you reach its end and a Holwood House estate Loop signpost (with destinations and distances) directing you left along the and the ponds there were constructed to dam between the ponds. At its end, take the first right down some steps supply water to the and continue along the left edge of the lower pond until reaching house. Fishponds Road.

Cross over and enter the wooded area taking the higher of the paths with the horse track and the third pond below to the right. Follow the path through the woods veering slightly to the left before reaching a short section of tarmac path that passes between the school on the left and a children's play area on the right.

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The footpath leads out onto Lakes Road which you follow to its end and the junction with Heathﬁeld Road. Turn right at the T-junction past the shops towards the ﬁrst mini roundabout passing the closed and boarded up 'Fox' pub on the left hand side.

Break point There are buses to Bromley from a stop near here on Heathﬁeld Road.

Take care crossing the roads aiming to end on the roadside path to the left of the second mini roundabout. There is a water fountain on the common and the Greyhound Pub is over to your right.

Walk along West Common Road, but very soon take the ﬁrst left onto a downhill track. After about 10 yards go right at the Loop signpost (which is hidden from above) to take a path into the woods following the line of the road. Keep to the left of Baston Manor Road along the path running parallel to the road and going straight on across Hast Hill.

Pass through a barrier by a large Loop signpost and keep straight on following the line of the fence to the left. On coming out of the wood go past a signpost with Loop waymark and through another barrier to cross Hartﬁeld Crescent and carry on along the path ahead past a small car park. Keep left at the ﬁrst fork and bear right at the second to take the path through the more open earthworks and heath land.

Just past a bench with a view over the valley, keep ahead past a waymark as the downhill path becomes rougher, steep, narrow and rutted. Ignore paths on either side then branch left to reach a lone gate beyond a City of London West Wickham Common information board. This is next to Croydon Road with Gates Green Road to the left. This is where Section 3 ends.

Next steps To continue to Section 4 bear left and cross Gates Green Road to join the tarmac path between fences.

To reach Hayes station cross Croydon Road at the island and head back to the right uphill, crossing over Coney Hall Road, then along the pavement past the entrance to Nash College. Immediately turn left at the signpost to join a fenced and enclosed footpath (Pole Cat Alley) leading up and down. The path joins Warren Wood Close, crosses the end of Holland Way, and then meets Warren Road at a barrier with a sports ground on the right.

Carry on along the road until the junction with Station Hill. Here turn left and follow the road down. Go left with Station Hill at the junction with Ridgeway to reach the roundabout at the bottom passing the New Inn on your right. The station entrance is on the right a short distance down Station Approach.